Creamy Tomato & Salami Fettuccine, everyday cookbook page 89.
This is so easy to make. I substitute 100% of the salami for the same weight in chopped mushrooms (we don't eat salami). I find that it thickens, the pasta softens to the perfect texture for us, when in the thermoserver for about 5 mins.
We give it 5/5
Mushroom Risotto, everyday cookbook page 85
It's fine with no parsley and no parmesan and no butter - just as it is!
I use 1100g of water instead of 1000g. After doing onion and garlic saute, I add all ingredients (incl mushrooms) and cook for 16 mins. Works fine.
I have used plain medium grain white rice and it's fine.
Another 5/5
Brown Rice Salad, everyday cookbook page 43
This is great. I did more vegies than suggested, didn't add any tuna/chickpeas/beans) and reduced lemon juice to half a lemon. I also cooked for 2 mins longer on Varoma temp as the brown rice was still a bit firm for our taste. Served hot as is, with other dishes, for evening meal.
Score 4/5
Chinese-style Stir Fry Vegetables, everyday cookbook p92
This is so, so fast! I put my rice cooker on (generally feeding 10 so still use the old rice cooker!) and it takes 25 mins to cook heaps of rice. While that's happening I cut up the veg and follow this recipe, adding more veg though. By the time the rice is done, the stir-fry veg are ready to go. Dinner in under 1/2 hour and I don't have to 'stir' the stir-fry!
This one is 5/5
Chilli Con Carne, everyday cookbook p102
We adapt this to vegetarian, as per suggestion. But the instructions are then a little confusing as there's no meat and the beans are tinned so pre-cooked. So the cooking time is way less and there's heaps less steps. I puree some beans, and add the others to stay whole. Served with nachos and salad and avocado this is a winner with the kids!
Another 5/5
Bechamel Sauce, everyday cookbook p58
I make this as per recipe, doubled (so add 20% to the time) and it's perfect for our tastes.
Yep, 5/5
Fast Curry, everyday cookbook p96
Vegetarian adaption again - cooks quicker - did the potato for 10 mins, then the veg for only another 8 mins or so.
The good thing about this is that it's
fast. It tasted fine, but I think I'd prefer a more chunky curry - the veg chopped too fine (NB:
MY error). I'm used to a slow-cooked curry, so this was different.
Doing it my way - 3/5 overall but 5/5 for flavour
Boiled eggs - 8 eggs - perfect! 5/5
Pumpkin Soup, everyday cookbook p70
I find this is a bit thin for us, so need to adapt it some more. It's tasty though (I don't put the sugar in). I have added curry powder and other herbs and spices. I have also used the recipe to make a choko soup, with more spices since choko is bland. It's a good basic recipe to get times and amounts for a simple lunchtime soup.
5/5
Grating cheese - blocks of parmesan or tasty cheddar 5/5
Coleslaw, everyday cookbook p39
Still using store-bought mayo and add a little more. Red apple works fine too. I have made this 3 times and it's perfect! 5/5
Porridge, everyday cookbook p36
I double this recipe (6 kids!) and use all milk. I only prcoess the oats for 2-3 seconds as we don't like it too fine. I add 20% to the time as I double the ingredients. I find that it's a little thin, but nice. We add honey to serve.
Compared to 'normal' porridge 4/5
Phew, I think that's enough feedback for now.
Oh, I have found the meals a little salty. I wonder if my stock concentrate (from everyday cookbook) is too salty. When I make my 2nd batch, I'll decide. We don't normally add salt, but used Massel Chicken-Style and Vegetable stock powders for years... So I add about half the stock concentrate for now, till I make a new batch to the recipe and decide...
Oh, made the
minestrone - texture poor and amounts wrong. Taste good though!
I do find myself adding a crunch of pepper or pinch of herbs here and there, to the recipes...
Should I be emailing all this to someone? Tenina? I'm very new at this, only had my TM for about 3 weeks.
